Tasmania votes: Hobart councillor Ben Lohberger to run in Clark, Libs talk electricity generation

Libs want to ‘tear up and rewrite’ a charter limiting the size of projects Hydro can build, meanwhile independent Ben Lohberger says Hobart is ‘sick of being ignored’. Rolling election coverage.

Minister for Energy and Renewables Nick Duigan, TMEC chief executive Ray Mostogl, Liberty Bell Bay general manager Paul Venter, Premier Jeremy Rockliff, Liberty Bell Bay executive assistant Tracey Etchells and Liberty Bell Bay HSEC Mark Harriss. Picture Stephanie Dalton

The Liberals will lift the lid on “outdated” legislation that prevents Hydro Tasmania from building or partnering in new energy generation projects.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff made the pre-election promise on Monday, following the announcement they would “tear up and rewrite” Hydro’s Ministerial Charter on Sunday.

Under the Hydro-Electric Corporation Act 1995, Hydro is prevented from building projects greater than 40 megawatts in capacity.

Minister for Energy and Renewables Nick Duigan, Premier Jeremy Rockliff and Liberty Bell Bay general manager Paul Venter at the Liberty Bell Bay plant. Picture: Stephanie Dalton

Mr Rockliff said removing this would lower Tasmania’s energy prices and create jobs by generating more power.

“Abolishing Hydro’s legislative limit on building or partnering in new energy generation infrastructure will truly power up Tasmania’s future,” Mr Rockliff said.

“It will also unlock a whole new generation of energy generation construction in Tasmania, with the potential to create local jobs in the process.

“So the sky’s the limit when it comes to hydro Tasmania investing in and partnering with other energy providers bringing more renewable energy investment to here into Tasmania.”

‘Sick of being ignored’: Lohberger puts UTAS move on agenda

Hobart councillor Ben Lohberger will stand as an independent at the state election saying people are “sick of being ignored” on housing, bus services, the hospital and UTAS relocation.

Mr Lohberger, who was a founding member of Save UTAS, said it was a hard decision to decide to run for Clark and he would give up his council salary for the duration of the campaign.

He said the people of Hobart had been let down repeatedly by the major parties and he would campaign for more public housing, better public transport, and the government to build and operate a new Glenorchy pool.

City of Hobart Councillors, Ben Lohberger. Picture: Chris Kidd

“We need a big boost to housing numbers in Hobart to help get people off the street and into homes,” Mr Lohberger said.

“I’ve spoken to people who have missed medical appointments, interviews, and school pick-ups, because the bus didn’t turn up.”

Mr Lohberger said Labor and Liberal promises of $5m to reopen the Glenorchy Pool was “just kicking the can down the road”.

“Glenorchy needs a new pool but the council cannot afford to build one or operate it so it should be paid for and operated by the state government,” he said.

Mr Lohberger said if he was elected he would introduce legislation to stop UTAS selling its Sandy Bay campus.

“UTAS has blocked much needed inner city housing by sitting on large inner city properties for years.”

UTAS Sandy Bay campus signage. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

He supports a Tasmanian AFL team but said the government’s weak negotiating skills meant he could not support “a ruinous and unnecessary stadium while people in Hobart are living in tents and cars and friend’s sheds”.

Mr Lohberger says there are “big problems coming for Hobart’s drinking water catchment” and a single agency was needed to monitor water quality and “protect Hobart’s drinking water”.

Originally published as Tasmania votes: Hobart councillor Ben Lohberger to run in Clark, Libs talk electricity generation